Synonym Chooser

How does the verb extirpate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of extirpate are eradicate, exterminate, and uproot. While all these words mean "to effect the destruction or abolition of something," extirpate implies extinction of a race, family, species, or sometimes an idea or doctrine by destruction or removal of its means of propagation.

many species have been extirpated from the area

When is eradicate a more appropriate choice than extirpate?

Although the words eradicate and extirpate have much in common, eradicate implies the driving out or elimination of something that has established itself.

a campaign to eradicate illiteracy

When would exterminate be a good substitute for extirpate?

While in some cases nearly identical to extirpate, exterminate implies complete and immediate extinction by killing off all individuals.

exterminate cockroaches

When can uproot be used instead of extirpate?

The words uproot and extirpate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, uproot implies a forcible or violent removal and stresses displacement or dislodgment rather than immediate destruction.

the war uprooted thousands

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of extirpate Mountain lions were native to Arkansas until about 1920, when they were extirpated from the state through unregulated hunting and habitat loss. Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 9 Oct. 2025 But by the 1930s, the apex predators had been extirpated from the area, largely due to hunting, government eradication programs and habitat loss. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025 While both black and brown bears can be found in abundance during a visit, the park made waves in 1995 with the reintroduction of gray wolves, an iconic species that was extirpated from the region in the early 20th century. Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Wildlife officials have collared a dozen gray wolves in Northern California in an effort to better understand and manage the species that has made a comeback in the state after being extirpated a century ago. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extirpate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extirpate
Verb
  • According to Jaworowski, the technology just doesn’t exist yet to eradicate the need for power generation that can supply energy 24 hours a day.
    Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 4 Nov. 2025
  • But those remakes are about hive-mind monsters infecting and possessing humans, who valiantly resist but fail to eradicate the threat.
    Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The drop in SoftBank shares has erased nearly $50 billion in market cap over two days.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
  • These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Now abolish property taxes for us that live here.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Additionally, individual states can’t decide to abolish the practice without Congressional approval.
    Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Just under two million Palestinians—virtually the entire population of Gaza—have been displaced since October 2023, many repeatedly, and Israeli forces have damaged or destroyed more than 90 percent of homes in the Strip.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Teddy is a conspiracy theorist who believes Michelle is an alien hellbent on destroying Earth.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Extirpate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extirpate. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on extirpate

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